NI Implementing Project To Address Maternal Anaemia.

Peshawar -- A project dissemination event was organized by Nutrition International and Prime Foundation at a local hotel in Peshawar to share the project progress, achievements, and lessons learned.

Chairperson, Health Standing Committee Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rabia Basree was the chief guest, while Dr Akram Shah, Chief Health Sector Research and Reforms Unit (HSRU) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Khawaja Masood, Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination wing attended the event as the guest of honour.

During the project briefing, the participants were informed that with the support of the Government of Canada, Nutrition International implemented this project titled 'Iron Folic Acid (IFA) Supplementation for addressing Maternal Anaemia in Pakistan' as part of its Covid-19 Emergency Response Initiative.

This one-year project was implemented in seven merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, Orakzai, South Waziristan, and North Waziristan. The project's objective was to support the provincial government in addressing maternal anaemia in the target districts through technical assistance and commodities provision.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shabina Raza, Country Director - Nutrition International, appreciated the support of the Health Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the efforts of the project teams in the field to accomplish all the project activities effectively within the stipulated time.

While highlighting the key achievements, Dr Raza shared the project aimed to address maternal anaemia amongst pregnant women with the successful distribution of IFA tablets in all tribal districts, as well as capacity building of healthcare workers to improve the health and nutrition outcomes of mothers and children.

Stressing the need to address maternal and adolescent anaemia in Pakistan and highlighting aligned efforts of Nutrition International and collaboration with the national and provincial government, Dr Raza said 'our interventions are aligned with the government strategies to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity via the provision of capacity building programs, evidence generations, commodities provision, and awareness raising initiatives'.

Similarly, highlighting the achievements of the project, Asim Qureshi, National Program Officer, MNCAH and N Nutrition International, informed that the project successfully distributed 71366 IFAs to pregnant and lactating women (PLWs) in...